Record wet conditions in Midwest so far this year

The first half of 2013 has had a record wet start throughout the Midwest.

The Illinois State Water Survey reported that regional precipitation totals rank as the wettest January to June period on record since they started keeping track in 1895.

Regionwide precipitation for the Midwest for January through June of this year is just under 24 inches, which is just over six inches above normal. And that's nearly a nine inch difference from the same time last year.

Drought conditions have improved significantly across the Midwest since last year because of the above normal precipitation.

At the beginning of this year, more than 50% of the region was being affected by some level of drought. But as of the beginning of this month, only a small portion in Minnesota remains in drought, representing less than 1% of the Midwestern region.

And at this time last year, Illinois and Indiana had just experienced their sixth driest January to June period on record.

Meanwhile in Illinois, statewide precipitation for January to June of 2013 was just around one inch behind the entire 2012 total of around 30 inches. Illinois has accumulated a total of around 29 inches of rain over this year's first six months.

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